I have actually made a resolution that I think I can stick to this year and that was to make sure that I put more live plants in the tank. I am not sure if the ones I put in are easy care or the light factors because I didn;t do much homework on them but I just went to Petco for some snail free plants to put in the tank. Slowly but surely I will remove all of the plastics and eventually do all live plants. It will be a much healthier enviornment for the fish as well as a live and full appeal in the tank. I know that fish upkeep is hard enough and they say you have to have a green aqua thumb for planting but I guess I will see.

I put some ferns(misc types) some kyoto and wisteria in and they look really god so far. The ferns are a few weeks old and I have a few live plants from the first set up and I dont even remember the names. So far I have 4-5 species in the tank.

I am asking for names of plants that look nice which is probably most and the ease of care or care factors. SO list away so I can possibly have a planted Cichlid tank before Feb. 7.... Any and all pics welcome to.

Ok I will look for some but they didnt have any there, and I really want ot make sure they are snail free too, I hve heard so many snail problems BUT I know that assasin snails and loaches kill all snails... I will look for them starting tonight on line.

Now John my other question is this:
is it better to have all natural plants or a combo of real and synthetics. What do you have ?
Does any one have a preference to all real or synthetics? and why? How is the tank maintenance when its time to do a full cleaning. I am putting in my order as we speak for some real plants and will be removing my synthetics when they arrive.

i have not had any artificial plants in decades....
but i don't always keep plants in with africans anyhow...and i see a lot of people attaching anubias and java ferns to driftwood and putting them in african tanks...not a good thing....attach them to rocks..look for tufa rock...great stuff...and use crushed coral or dolomite or crushed limestone for the substrate...
here is a great deal on some anubias from a great seller...every plant i have gotten from him has been perfect..he also has several other auctions going on ; chack them out..

i have not had any artificial plants in decades....
but i don't always keep plants in with africans anyhow...and i see a lot of people attaching anubias and java ferns to driftwood and putting them in african tanks...not a good thing....attach them to rocks..look for tufa rock...great stuff...and use crushed coral or dolomite or crushed limestone for the substrate...
here is a great deal on some anubias from a great seller...every plant i have gotten from him has been perfect..he also has several other auctions going on ; chack them out..

This guy will be my main plant man from this day forth. I ordered it that night and when I came home from work today the plants were here, I also received my Kyoga Flamebacks today too, I was worried because they were a bit small but the other fish are not hassling them(a pair m&f) so far keep my fingers crossed.